Niepoort NAT'Cool! Tinto 2020

Dirk Niepoort's NAT'Cool! range of wines was created to meet certain criteria: be made as naturally as possible, be low alcohol, be terroir-driven, use native grapes to the region, and be so smashable that it's only sold in 1L bottles.

This lighter, shining red is 40-100-year-old Baga vines from the limestone-laced, clay soils of Bairrada. Native ferment and aging in stainless preserves the purity of fruit and precision afforded by soulful old vines on these soils.

Wild plum and raspberry are threaded with scrubby herbs and bushy rockrose. Acidity is crunchy and bright, and tannins are light, guiding this to a pink peppercorn-dusted, mineral-humming finish. Serve with a light chill. Smashable, by definition.